Music holder



March 20, 1934' C. P. DAMSTRA MUSIC HOLDER Filed Sept. 21, 1931 Patented Mar. 20, 1934 rrs STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in music book leaf or sheet holders and has for its object to provide on a piano or the like, means whereby a music book may be held open at a desired place, and means whereby the holding means may be released at the will of the performer of the piano or the like, in order to permit the turning of the leaves of the book.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flat pedal operated book leaf holder.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fully appear, I have invented the device shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an elevational View of a piano, showing my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the device in a changed position; and

Figure 4 is a detail view of a pedal arrangement.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the following specification and in the several views in the drawing the reference numeral 1 indicates a piano having a pair of bracket members 2 and 3 with forward downwardly extending portions 4 and 5, terminating in bearings 6 and 7 for supporting the pivot rod 8, having a normally downwardly extending crank end 9, terminating in a leaf or sheet engaging member in the form of a horizontally disposed elongated heavy T-head 10, which, through gravity, normally rests across the top edges 11 and 12 of the leaves 13 and 14 of the music book 15, whereby said leaves are held spaced apart flat, in order that the player may readily read the music text thereon. The outer end 16 of said rod 8 terminates in a right angular portion 17, which normally inclines slightly up from the horizontal 0 member and is terminally pivoted at 18 to a link rod 19, the lower end 20 of which is pivoted at 21 to the terminal 22 of a crank 23 of the lower rod 24, pivotally mounted in bearings 25 and 26 of the brackets 27 and 28. The rod 24 is provided with a right angular end 29 with a downwardly extending portion 30 which is in turn provided with a right angular, outwardly extending horizontal pedal 31, said pedal normally alining with the tone pedals 32 of the piano. The crank 23 projects forwardly while the crank 1'7 projects rearwardly whereby when the pedal 31 is pressed down the rod 24 is rotated slightly, thus moving the crank 23 down and consequently drawing the link 19 and crank 1'7 down which action slightly rotates rod 8 to raise crank 9 to horizontal position and lifts the T-head 1]. above the book 15, whereby the leaves may readily be turned without interference; then by lifting the foot from pedal 31, the action is reversed by gravity and the book is again held in proper position by the 50 T-head 11.

The link rod 19, crank 23, part 30 and pedal 31, are formed of a relatively light material, such as aluminum, in order that the weight of the heavy T-head will normally hold said members in raised position. However, foot pressure upon the pedal will cause the raising of said T-head through the action of said members and their connections.

Having described my invention, that which I claim to be new, and desire to procure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A book leaf holder comprising a leaf engaging member, and means whereby the same may be raised and lowered, said raising means including a foot operated pedal.

2. A book leaf holder comprising a leaf engaging member, and means whereby the same may be raised and lowered, said raising means including a foot operated pedal, gravity forming said lowering means. so

3. A book leaf holder comprising a leaf engaging member, and means whereby the same may be raised and lowered, said raising means including a foot operated pedal, gravity forming said lowering means, and a pivot rod to which said leaf engaging member is fixed.

Y 4. A book leaf holder comprising a T-head, and means whereby the same may be raised and lowered, said raising means including a foot operated pedal, gravity forming said lowering means, 20 a pivot rod to which said T-head is fixed, said raising means including a lower pivot rod to which said pedal is connected.

5. A book leaf holder comprising a leaf engaging member, and means whereby the same may be raised and lowered, said raising means including a foot operated pedal, gravity forming said lowering means, a pivot rod to which said leaf engaging member is fixed, said raising means including a lower pivot rod to which said pedal is .100 connected, and a link connecting said rods. f

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, each of said rods terminating in cranks to which the ends of the link are pivoted.

'7. A book leaf holder comprising a leaf engag- 1 05 ing member, and means whereby the same may be raised and lowered, said raising means including a foot operated pedal, gravity forming said lowering means, a pivot rod to which said leaf engaging member is fixed, said raising means in- .110

8. The device as claimed in claim '7, the pedal end of said lower rod terminating in a crank on which said pedal is mounted, said pedal being disposed below the axis of said lower rod.

CORNELIUS P. DAMSTRA. 

